Method of mixing fuel and oxidant, and method of decomposing feedstock

Abstract

To provide a novel method of mixing fuel and an oxidant, and a novel method of decomposing a feedstock using a feedstock reactor.SOLUTION: Fuel is mixed with an oxidant to form a first combustible gas mixture mainly comprising non-plug flows. The first combustible gas mixture transitions to a second combustible gas mixture mainly comprising plug lows. The second combustible gas mixture is combusted to form one or more combustion products. One or more combustion products are mixed with the feedstock to decompose the feedstock.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to fluid mixing, and more particularly to a method for mixing a fuel and an oxidizer, as well as a method for cracking a feedstock using a fuel mixed with an oxidizer. [Background technology]

[0002] Thermal pyrolysis is a process that breaks down a feed gas, such as a hydrocarbon, into its components (carbon and hydrogen in the case of hydrocarbons) without the use of an oxidizing agent. Cracking is caused by raising the temperature of the feed gas sufficiently to the point where the chemical bonds of the elements of the feed gas are broken.

[0003] Such pyrolysis may be accomplished, for example, by thermal contact of the feed gas with a hot fluid. At a sufficiently high temperature, mixing of the hot fluid with the feed gas and transfer of thermal energy from the hot fluid to the feed gas is sufficient to cause the feed gas to undergo a chemical transformation and decompose.

[0004] One hot fluid that may be used includes combustion product gases formed as a result of burning a combustible fuel. For example, a combustible mixture of fuel and oxidant may be burned in a combustion chamber connected to a reaction chamber containing a feedstock. The combustion products generated as a result of the combustion then flow from the combustion chamber to the reaction chamber and mix with the feedstock, causing decomposition of the feedstock. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method of mixing a fuel with an oxidizer is provided, the method including mixing the fuel and the oxidizer to form a first combustible gas mixture having predominantly non-plug flow, and transitioning the first combustible gas mixture to a second combustible gas mixture having predominantly plug flow.

[0006] The method may further include combusting the second combustible gas mixture to form one or more combustion products and mixing the one or more combustion products with the feedstock contained within the reaction chamber, where the mixing step results in energy being transferred from the one or more combustion products to the feedstock causing decomposition of the feedstock.

[0007] Mixing the fuel and oxidant may include using one or more of jets in cross-flow mixing, axial swirl mixing, and radial swirl mixing.

[0008] Transitioning the first combustible gas mixture to the second combustible gas mixture may include flowing the first combustible gas mixture through a flow straightener.

[0009] The flow straightener may include a wire mesh or a flow diffuser.

[0010] The flow straightener may include a perforated plate.

[0011] The relative diameters and lengths of the holes in the perforated plate may be selected to promote a transition of one or more non-plug flow characteristics of the first combustible gas mixture to one or more plug flow characteristics.

[0012] The ratio of length to diameter may be at least one.

[0013] The length to diameter ratio may be at least 2.5.

[0014] Mixing the fuel with the oxidizer includes flowing at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer through a perforated plate, and mixing the fuel with the oxidizer after flowing at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer through the perforated plate to form a first combustible gas mixture having a predominantly non-plug flow.

[0015] Mixing the fuel with the oxidizer may include a step of flowing either the fuel or the oxidizer in an axial direction, and between the steps of flowing either the fuel or the oxidizer in the axial direction, flowing the other of the fuel and the oxidizer in a direction away from the axial direction to mix the fuel and the oxidizer.

[0016] The fuel may include uncracked feedstock recycled from a previous reaction cycle.

[0017] The oxidant may include pure oxygen.

[0018] The oxidant may include air.

[0019] The feedstock may comprise a hydrocarbon.

[0020] One or more combustion products from the previous reaction cycle may be admitted to a combustion chamber connected to the reaction chamber. The method may further include flowing a second combustible gas mixture into the combustion chamber, thereby causing the one or more combustion products from the previous reaction cycle to be expelled from the combustion chamber by the second combustible gas mixture.

[0021] As a result of the second combustible gas mixture having primarily plug flow, mixing between the second combustible gas mixture and one or more combustion products from a previous reaction cycle may be substantially reduced.

[0022] One or more combustion products from a previous reaction cycle may be exhausted from a feedstock reactor comprising a combustion chamber and a reaction chamber or forced into the reaction chamber.

[0023] The one or more combustion products from the previous reaction cycle may include one or more of CO2, CO, N2, and H2O.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a feedstock reactor comprising a mixing section, a straightening section coupled to the mixing section, a combustion chamber coupled to the straightening section, and a reaction chamber coupled to the combustion chamber; one or more ignition devices; and a controller comprising electronic circuitry and configured to control valves, the one or more compressors, and the one or more ignition devices to introduce the feedstock into the reaction chamber and introduce the fuel and oxidant into the mixing section, thereby forming a first combustible gas mixture having a predominantly non-plug flow, the first combustible gas mixture then transitioning to a second combustible gas mixture having a predominantly plug flow as a result of flowing through the straightening section, causing the second combustible gas mixture to enter the combustion chamber to form one or more combustion products that enter the reaction chamber and mix with the feedstock, combusting the second combustible gas mixture in the combustion chamber, and mixing of the feedstock with the one or more combustion products resulting in energy being transferred from the one or more combustion products to the feedstock causing decomposition of the feedstock.

[0025] The flow straightening section may include a flow diffuser for dispersing the first combustible gas mixture.

[0026] The flow straightening section may comprise a perforated plate or a wire mesh.

[0027] This summary does not necessarily describe the entire scope of all aspects. Other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments.

[0028] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a portion of a feedstock reactor including a manifold coupled to a combustion chamber for mixing fuel with an oxidizer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a feedstock reactor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A]1 illustrates various designs for mixing fuel and oxidizer according to embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] 1 illustrates various designs for mixing fuel and oxidizer according to embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3C] 1 illustrates various designs for mixing fuel and oxidizer according to embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The present disclosure provides a new method of mixing a fuel with an oxidizer and a new method of cracking a feedstock using a feedstock reactor. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described below, but the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and variations of these embodiments are well within the scope of the present disclosure, which is limited only by the appended claims.

[0031] When combustible fuels used as part of a thermal pyrolysis process are burned, the fuel and oxidant generally need to be well mixed in a certain stoichiometric ratio, and further, when the mixed gas is charged to the combustion chamber, the mixed gas needs to displace other gases (e.g., residual combustion products from a previous reaction cycle, etc.) within the combustion chamber without mixing with such other gases.

[0032] Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method of mixing a fuel with an oxidizer. The fuel is mixed with the oxidizer to form a first combustible gas mixture having predominantly non-plug flow properties. The first combustible gas mixture may therefore be described as exhibiting mixed flow. In other words, the fuel and oxidizer may be characterized by significant mixing and / or dispersion. The first combustible gas mixture then transitions to a second combustible gas mixture having predominantly plug flow. Plug flow is characterized by a flat velocity profile or one-dimensional flow with little radial change. The transition from non-plug flow to plug flow may be achieved, for example, by using a diffuser or straightener.

[0033] The method may additionally include combusting the second combustible gas mixture to form one or more combustion products that flow into the reaction chamber and mix with the feedstock contained within the reaction chamber. As a result of the mixing of the one or more combustion products with the feedstock, energy is transferred from the one or more combustion products to the feedstock causing decomposition of the feedstock.

[0034] Advantageously, mixing the fuel and the oxidizer to form the first combustible gas mixture may ensure that the fuel and the oxidizer are mixed well enough prior to combustion. Additionally, by transitioning the first combustible gas mixture to a second combustible gas mixture having predominantly plug flow and by flowing the second combustible gas mixture into the combustion chamber, the plug flow characteristics of the second combustible gas mixture may allow residual gases in the combustion chamber (e.g., which may include residual gases from a previous reaction cycle) to be pushed out of the combustion chamber (e.g., from the reactor itself or into the reaction chamber) as the second combustible gas mixture fills the combustion chamber. Furthermore, as a result of the second combustible gas mixture having predominantly plug flow, mixing between the second combustible gas mixture and any residual gases in the combustion chamber may be substantially reduced. For example, any such mixing between the second combustible gas mixture and the residual gases in the combustion chamber may be 5% or less, or more preferably 1% or less.

[0035] 1, a portion of a feedstock reactor is shown including a manifold coupled to a combustion chamber for mixing fuel with an oxidizer, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As seen in FIG. 1, the manifold portion 11 is coupled to a combustion chamber 18. The manifold portion 11 includes at least one fuel valve 10, at least one oxidizer valve 12, a mixing section 14, and a flow straightening section 16 coupled to the mixing section 14 and the combustion chamber 18.

[0036] At the beginning of a reaction cycle, the mixing section 14, the straightening section 16 and the combustion chamber 18 may be filled with one or more residual gases from the previous reaction cycle. The fuel valve 10 and the oxidizer valve 12 are opened and a fuel (e.g., hydrocarbon, methane, etc.) and an oxidizer (e.g., pure oxygen or air) are brought under pressure and mixed in the mixing section 14 to form a fuel-oxidizer mixture having primarily non-plug flow characteristics.

[0037] Mixing of the fuel and oxidizer in the mixing section 14 may be accomplished by any of a number of configurations of the fuel valve 10 and the oxidizer valve 12. For example, the fuel valve 10 and the oxidizer valve 12 may face one another so that the incoming flows of fuel and oxidizer intersect and promote mixing. Additional or alternative mixing strategies may be used, such as jets in cross-flow mixing, which may be accomplished by using an annular array of circumferentially arranged openings. In particular, either the fuel or oxygen may flow longitudinally and the other fluid may flow through the circumferentially arranged openings, with the fluid flowing through the openings penetrating and mixing with the longitudinally flowing stream.

[0038] According to some embodiments, swirl or swirl mixing is used to enhance mixing of the fuel and oxidizer. Such mixing may be achieved by using swirlers and / or some other physical features designed to induce some degree of swirl or rotational motion in the fluid. Such swirl may be induced either axially, radially, or both. According to some embodiments, the fuel and oxidizer may be mixed in a dedicated mixing zone. According to some embodiments, streamwise vorticity may be induced (e.g., by using lobe mixers as used in external aerodynamic devices) to enhance mixing of the two fluids. Such mixing strategies may reduce the mixing scale to more thoroughly mix the fuel and oxidizer. Other examples of mixing techniques include off-board premixing in a distributor (where the fuel and oxidizer are premixed before entering the manifold) and internal combustor head mixing.

[0039] After mixing, the fuel-oxidizer then flows into flow straightening section 16. Flow straightening section 16 may act as a flow diffuser to disperse the fuel-oxidizer mixture such that the diameter of the dispersed flow roughly matches the diameter of the inlet to combustion chamber 18. In particular, as can be seen in Figure 1, the diameter of mixing section 14 is smaller than the diameter of the combustion chamber, and flow straightening section 16 connects the outlet of mixing section 14 to the inlet of combustion chamber 18, thereby resulting in dispersing the fuel-oxidizer mixture.

[0040] At the exit of the flow straightening section 16, the fuel-oxidizer mixture exits as a mixture having primarily plug flow characteristics, allowing the fuel-oxidizer mixture to push out any residual gases (e.g., from a previous reaction cycle) inside the combustion chamber 18. As the fuel-oxidizer mixture flows from the mixing section 14 to the combustion chamber 18 through the flow straightening section 16, any residual gases in the mixing section 14 (e.g., from a previous reaction cycle) become entrained in the fuel-oxidizer mixture, along with any residual gases in the flow straightening section 16. The fuel valve 10 and the oxidizer valve 12 are then closed as the fuel-oxidizer mixture enters the combustion chamber 18 and any residual gases are pushed out of the combustion chamber 18.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of a feedstock reactor in which a mixture of fuel and oxidant may be used as part of a pyrolysis process is shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Fuel 50 (such as a hydrocarbon, e.g., methane) and oxidant 54 (such as pure oxygen or air) are injected under pressure into a mixing section 52 of a reactor (e.g., mixing section 14 described above in connection with FIG. 1 ). In addition, a reaction chamber 64 of the reactor is filled with a feedstock 66 (such as a hydrocarbon, e.g., methane) to be cracked.

[0043] The fuel 50 and the oxidizer 54 are mixed together within the mixing section 14. Any suitable method of mixing the fuel 50 and the oxidizer 54 may be used, such as any of the methods described above. For example, jet, swirl mixing, or radial or axial vorticity in cross-flow mixing may be used. As a result of the mixing of the fuel 50 and the oxidizer 54 within the mixing section 52, a first combustible gas mixture is formed within the mixing section 52, the first combustible gas mixture having primarily non-plug flow characteristics. For example, the first combustible gas mixture may be characterized by significant mixing and / or dispersion of the fuel and oxidizer within the first combustible gas mixture.

[0044] The first combustible gas mixture then passes through a flow straightener 56 into a combustion chamber 58 that is connected to a reaction chamber 64 using one or more fluid passages. The flow straightener 56 is configured to transition the first combustible gas mixture into a second combustible gas mixture having predominantly plug flow characteristics. As discussed above, plug flow may comprise a flow having a flat velocity profile or a one-dimensional flow with little radial change. Any suitable flow straightener may be used. For example, the first combustible gas mixture may pass through a perforated plate or a wire mesh. In the case of a perforated plate, the relative diameter and length of the holes in the perforated plate may be selected to promote the transition of one or more non-plug flow characteristics of the first combustible gas mixture into one or more plug flow characteristics. For example, the ratio of length to diameter may be at least 1 or at least 2.5.

[0045] The plug flow nature of the second combustible gas mixture allows the second combustible gas mixture to exit or exhaust any residual gases (e.g., combustion products from a previous reaction cycle) remaining within the combustion chamber 58 without substantially mixing with such residual gases. In particular, as seen in Figure 2, residual gases 60a are exhausted (e.g., using an appropriate exhaust valve) from the combustion chamber 58, or alternatively, residual gases 60b are exhausted from the combustion chamber 58 and enter the reaction chamber 64 via at least one of one or more fluid paths.

[0046] Once the combustion chamber 58 is filled with the second combustible gas mixture, the ignition device 62 is activated, causing combustion of the second combustible gas mixture to form combustion products that flow under pressure into a reaction chamber 64 filled with a feedstock 66. Thermal energy is transferred from the combustion products to the feedstock 66. Energy is also transferred from the hot combustion products to the feedstock 66 via dynamic compression of the feedstock 66 as a result of the pressure increase within the reaction chamber 64 in response to the flow of the hot pressurized combustion products into the reaction chamber 64. After a certain point, the increase in temperature of the feedstock 66 is sufficient to cause the feedstock 66 to decompose or pyrolyze. For methane, for example, the decomposition follows the equation:

number

[0047] The reaction products 68 produced by pyrolysis are then extracted from the reaction chamber 64 .

[0048] In some embodiments, a portion of the reaction products 68 are recycled back to the reaction chamber 64 for future reaction cycles. In the case of pyrolysis of methane, the reaction products 68 may include one or more of hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon, the unwanted products are primarily carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water, and the recycled gas mixture includes primarily unreacted natural gas, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon monoxide. The uncracked feedstock is used as fuel and provided to the mixing section 52.

[0049] The operation of the various valves of the reactor may be controlled by a suitable controller (such as a microprocessor) with electronic circuitry. A controller (not shown) or some other controller may control the filling of the mixing section 52 and reaction chamber 64, for example, by controlling the valves and compressors or similar devices.

[0050] 3A-3C, there are shown different design examples that can be used to enhance mixing of the fuel and oxidant and transition the flow properties of the fuel-oxidant mixture from non-plug flow to plug flow.

[0051] 3A shows the fuel valve 102 and the oxidizer valve 104 in an open position that allows fuel and oxidizer to flow into the mixing chamber (or "mixing section") 105. In particular, the oxidizer flows in a generally axial direction (i.e., from behind the oxidizer valve 104 toward the combustion chamber 112), while the fuel is configured to mix with the axial flow of oxidizer by jets in a cross-flow mixing. This is accomplished by providing a circumferential or annular fuel manifold 106 around the mixing chamber 105. Thus, fuel introduced from the fuel manifold 106 into the mixing chamber 105 may enter and mix with the oxidizer flow. Downstream of the mixing chamber 105 is a passageway 108 that connects the mixing chamber 105 to a flow diffuser 110. The passageway 108 helps to reduce swirl or vortex introduced into the fuel-oxidizer mixture as a result of mixing in the mixing chamber 105. At the end of the passage 108, the fuel-oxidizer mixture enters a flow diffuser 110 which performs the dual functions of assisting in the transition of the mixture flow to plug flow and dispersing the flow into a wider diameter flow before the mixture enters the combustion chamber 112.

[0052] 3B shows the fuel valve 202 and oxidizer valve 204 in an open position allowing the flow of fuel and oxidizer into a mixing chamber (or "mixer") 205. In particular, the oxidizer flows generally axially (i.e., from behind the oxidizer valve 204 towards the combustion chamber 212), while the fuel is configured to mix with the axial flow of oxidizer by jets in a cross-flow mix. This is accomplished by providing a circumferential or annular fuel manifold 206 around the periphery of the mixing chamber 205. Thus, fuel introduced from the fuel manifold 206 into the mixing chamber 205 may enter and mix with the oxidizer flow.

[0053] 3B, before the oxidizer enters the mixing chamber 205, it passes through a perforated plate 208 which introduces uniformity into the oxidizer flow entering the mixing chamber 205. After the fuel and oxidizer are mixed in the mixing chamber 205, the mixture enters a flow diffuser 210 which performs the dual function of helping transition the mixture flow to plug flow and dispersing the flow into a wider diameter flow before the mixture enters the combustion chamber 212. Without the perforated plate 208, the pressure drop created as the oxidizer flows through the oxidizer valve 204 increases the risk that the oxidizer and fuel flow inside the mixing chamber 205 will be preferentially routed to the outer holes of the flow diffuser 210.

[0054] In the design shown in FIG. 3C, the fuel manifold 306 is fluidly coupled to the hollow interior of radial vanes 305 extending from the body 308. Holes 307 are provided in the radial vanes 305 to allow fuel to exit the radial vanes 305 in a direction away from the longitudinal axis of the body 308 or tangentially (i.e., into / out of the page). This improves mixing of the fuel and oxidizer while also reducing any swirling or swirl of the introduced oxidizer as a result of the pressure drop that occurs as the oxidizer flows through the oxidizer valve 304. This reduction in swirl may help transition the mixture flow to plug flow. A perforated plate / flow diffuser may additionally be provided downstream of the body 308 to further facilitate transition of the mixture flow to plug flow.

[0055] The words "a" or "an," when used in conjunction with the words "comprising" or "including" in the claims and / or specification, may mean "one," but are also consistent with the meanings of "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more," unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a second or more, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0056] The terms "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" as used herein can have several different meanings depending on the context in which the terms are used. For example, as used herein, the terms coupled, coupled, or connected can indicate that two elements or devices are directly connected to one another, or that they are connected to one another via mechanical elements and / or one or more intermediate elements or devices, depending on the particular context. As used herein, the term "and / or" when used in connection with a list of items means any one or more of the members that make up the list.

[0057] As used herein, a reference to "about" or "approximately" a numerical value, or to being "substantially" equal to a numerical value, means within ±10% of that numerical value.

[0058] The use of language such as "at least one of X, Y, and Z," "at least one of X, Y, or Z," "at least one or more of X, Y, and Z," "at least one or more of X, Y, and / or Z," or "at least one or more of X, Y, and / or Z" is intended to include both a single item (e.g., only X, or only Y, or only Z) and multiple items (e.g., {X and Y}, {X and Z}, {Y and Z}, or {X, Y, and Z}). "At least one of" and similar phrases are not intended to convey a requirement that each item must be present, although each item may be present.

[0059] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and that alterations, modifications, and variations of these embodiments may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0060] Additionally, it is contemplated that any part of any aspect or embodiment discussed herein can be implemented or combined with any part of any other aspect or embodiment discussed herein.

Claims

1. 1. A method for mixing a fuel with an oxidizer, comprising the steps of: mixing the fuel with the oxidizer to form a first combustible gas mixture having a predominantly non-plug flow; transitioning the first combustible gas mixture to a second combustible gas mixture having predominantly plug flow; The method includes:

2. combusting the second combustible gas mixture to form one or more combustion products; mixing the one or more combustion products with a feedstock contained within a reaction chamber; The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing step results in energy being transferred from the one or more combustion products to the feedstock, causing the feedstock to crack.

3. Mixing the fuel with the oxidizer comprises: Jets in cross-flow mixing; Axial swirl mixing; Radial swirl mixing and The method of claim 1 or 2, comprising using one or more of:

4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning the first combustible gas mixture to the second combustible gas mixture comprises flowing the first combustible gas mixture through a flow straightener.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the flow straightener comprises a wire mesh or a flow diffuser.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the flow straightener comprises a perforated plate.

7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the relative diameters and lengths of the holes in the perforated plate are selected to promote a transition of one or more non-plug flow characteristics of the first combustible gas mixture to one or more plug flow characteristics.

8. Mixing the fuel with the oxidizer comprises: flowing at least one of the fuel and the oxidant through a perforated plate; and after the step of flowing at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer through the perforated plate, mixing the fuel with the oxidizer to form the first combustible gas mixture having a predominantly non-plug flow.

9. Mixing the fuel with the oxidizer comprises: flowing either the fuel or the oxidizer in an axial direction; 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, during the step of flowing either the fuel or the oxidizer in the axial direction, flowing the other of the fuel and the oxidizer in a direction deviated from the axial direction, thereby mixing the fuel and the oxidizer.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fuel comprises recycled non-cracked feedstock from a previous reaction cycle.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the oxidant comprises pure oxygen.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the oxidant comprises air.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the feedstock comprises a hydrocarbon.

14. one or more combustion products from a previous reaction cycle are admitted to a combustion chamber connected to the reaction chamber; 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising flowing the first combustible gas mixture into the combustion chamber, whereby the one or more combustion products from the previous reaction cycle are exhausted from the combustion chamber by the second combustible gas mixture.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second combustible gas mixture has predominantly plug flow such that mixing between the second combustible gas mixture and the one or more combustion products from the previous reaction cycle is substantially reduced.

16. 16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the one or more combustion products from the previous reaction cycle are exhausted from a feedstock reactor comprising the combustion chamber and the reaction chamber or forced into the reaction chamber.

17. The one or more combustion products from the previous reaction cycle include CO 2 , C.O., N 2 , and H 2 The method of any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising one or more of: O.

18. 1. A system comprising: A feedstock reactor including a mixing section, a flow straightening section connected to the mixing section, a combustion chamber connected to the flow straightening section, and a reaction chamber connected to the combustion chamber; one or more ignition devices; and a controller having circuitry for operating valves, one or more compressors, and the one or more ignition devices to: introducing a feedstock into the reaction chamber; forming a first combustible gas mixture having a predominantly non-plug flow by introducing fuel and oxidizer into the mixing section, the first combustible gas mixture then flowing through the flow straightening section and transitioning to a second combustible gas mixture having a predominantly plug flow such that the second combustible gas mixture then flows into the combustion chamber; a reaction chamber configured to combust the second combustible gas mixture in the combustion chamber to form one or more combustion products that flow into the reaction chamber and mix with the feedstock, and wherein the mixing of the feedstock and the one or more combustion products results in energy being transferred from the one or more combustion products to the feedstock to decompose the feedstock.

19. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the flow straightening section comprises a flow diffuser for dispersing the first combustible gas mixture.

20. 20. The system of claim 18 or 19, wherein the flow straightening portion comprises a perforated plate or a wire mesh.

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